Monday, December 31, 2012
31 December 2012
Here, in pouring rain, the night is kicking in;
in the rear, making an effort to enjoy the glass of cold Stout,
right elbow swollen, maybe by
the morning effect of too many chords of E,A, B,
about as much as the keyboard can manage in near retirement.
Here, in pouring rain, peering through the mosquito netting,
a frog comes to wish me a happy new year, a two leg kissing,
I thank her; maybe, she just wants mosquito cuisine
Ai Hwa is out, the norm, Henry, Rhiannon in Subang Jaya.
I phoned to remind them to go quiet in the night
Here, in abating rain, I hear dog, neighbour bark
then quiet comes back; or maybe no;
before the rain, thinking it retired at the wrong time,
making an attempt to arrange the rhythm of the oncoming new year, here
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Cher Yen, Jia En, Chiao Yee
of pretty thirteen year elegance
Jia En,
bye to them, a trio happy,
clean, polite, interesting,
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Poem of 2 / poem of zero / E m p t y p o e m
I want to write about zero
I begin here; I finish here
Bye
Empty, there you are
Friday, October 19, 2012
Raw cicak yuk
‘Um, part of it, yep; got an A.’
cabbage, with a wad of force-fed goose pâté, irradiated battery chicken?’
PJK 11 October, 2012 / 1433
Monday, October 8, 2012
Technonology
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Monsoon here, hear
Here,
in the garden, with the wind, with rain
the rain, unceasing to me, comes back,
the rain, tiring after the afternoon workout
I hear quiet rhythm of nothing, here
by the back, the pepper plant, cut by amah,
the rain beginning to fade away
the sun on its western way home
I am in the night, just me
I ask a question.
I wait, but for what I might ask
1 pm Terengganu garden
Malay haiku
Friday, August 31, 2012
memory prison
the breeze blows soft along the beach
and makes me think about the sea
palm branches sway, at least they’re free
I wonder what went wrong for me
I cannot think now, I cannot reach
Y2K minus 3
on Dungun beach, my children play
young Ming and Ying, our little two
I think they might know what I once knew
it’s not the shellfish they want to chew
when waves crash heavy in the bay
Y2K minus 25
it seemed so easy, years ago
my bag, a ticket, then explore
Berber market or Red Sea shore
Nubian desert wadi floor
the Nile banks where date palms grow
hot naked road, glinting air
Friday fried fish breakfast meeting
shoulder patting, market greeting
outside tap, infection cheating
tomato, lettuce washed with care
umbrella peanut women urge
you buy a simple paper cone
weary floodlit football moan
cinema where few actors known
the points where north and coast track merge
railway workshop of broken train
cheap kettle boil, charcoal power
squash court recoil, wild swing cower
cycle oil, night dust hour
for hubbly-bubbly coffee grain
Y2K minus 20
high mountain Taif, mist escarpment
old golden souk with Arab men
the letter writers with their pen
money changer,get your cheque, then
perfume walk to bare apartment
post-buffet pool cue chat, or might
watch Pepsi films on in-house screen
my censored business magazine
the Crown Prince in his limousine
new Jeddah airport, Thursday flight
Cairo, Frankfurt, the Fenlands’ edge
Cheop’s Giza building feat
warm May Rhine house, garden neat
a picnic in the Suffolk wheat
patio buffet, acorn hedge
Johannesburg, gold Kruger mint
to rain soaked Durban passing through
a wet Transkei, a dry Karroo
with coloured sky of diamond hue
new Stellenbosch umbrella tint
Nairobi, jacaranda tree
Jacintha seamstress curtain cut
Nkubu track of dusting rut
grass roof, bent stick, round mud wall hut
Mombasa train to Tiwi sea
Y2k minus 15
the purple mountain, the High Plateaux
wind break pines where picnics sing
baguette, hot tea, roast chicken wing
soft desert breeze that warm skies bring
the scorpion that made us go
carrot couscous, Mecheria
the Douanes et Gendarmerie
cigar smoke, coffee, sweet mint tea
cold drought hit flat, floor number three
rationing was frequent here
Ain Sefra, Taghit, far Adrar
Saharan Atlas, harsh terrain
here summer wind beats up the grain
in sandstorm plays that ground the plane
good memories seem not so far
Y2K plus 200 0800 –0830 hour
my wife was warm this Friday morning
enjoying, as I touch her thigh
caressing, listening to her cry
a long time since we reached a high
my new time thinking out in awning
Y2K plus 202 0545 hour
but I know well it will not last
what will happen in a day or two
the moans, complaints, they’re nothing new
it is a place that we’ve been through
the few good times were of the past
Y2K plus 199 1750 hour
after work, when I come home
watch them going on their bike
play badminton, or chess game hike
read science book, eat ice cream mike
then in the bath, play with the foam
Y2K plus 199 2043 hour
I know she thinks that she takes care
at times, she is most kind to me
the children too, they would agree;
when she’s at work though, that’s when we’re free
of that I know she’s well aware
Y2K plus 199 2045 hour
the Proton brake, the padlocked door
but now we’re in computer cell
something clicks, and all seems well
listen to Johann Pachelbel
happy peace in memory store
Y2K ? 0230 hour
the breeze whips strong with thunder rain
the lightning makes the circuit blow
the candle, gentle yellow glow
harsh dark wet noise, no insects go
thoughts of escape come back again
Friday, August 3, 2012
Adlestrop...not only the name
adlestrop
just a name / for a game
where i look / picture book
want to see / poetry
when i look / in the book
adlestrop / steam train stop
why no go / i don’t know
whistle blow / steam train go
all birds fly / in the sky
oxfordshire / gloucestershire
young boy kissing mum
wasp on my tongue
co-op shop
cricket, making run
cowboy i enjoy
train spotting / name jotting
robin thrush / bird nest
willow tree
adlestrop
just a name / for my game
no it ‘s not / not for me / cannot be / memory
Tynewydd
Yes. Adlestrop
a book of colour poetry
that was a special place
pictures
a present at that early age
council house, no car, or tv
just book, train, wildlife
the birthday Raleigh bike I knew
had scratching, was not brand new
but, of course, no children knew why
mum’s money was in short supply
railway wallpaper in my room
I didn’t notice winter
long back garden, grass, flower
where summer went on and on
when you’re only a few years old
there is no bitter winter
embankment blaze, firemen
sparking trains ran near the house
one mile away, the castles went
to Newport, Hereford, and Crewe
forgotten now just what he said
but catapult my neighbour’s head
angry noise from my mother
now the time she made my brother
thick hedgerow, bird nest, willow tree
on rusting metal cut my knee
in unkempt wilds, roaming
tonight I checked, have the scar
rocks of walnut on orange mat
cowboys, indians
painted figure, a holster gun
feather,
transfers of birds by kitchen door
paraffin heating landing
by Avondale, train spotting
with the book, name-number jotting
platform, broken station
waiting Granddad’s train, elation
didn’t see us as he flew past
gradient meant he went so fast
August Coleg Harlech where
cascading grounds breathe warm sea air
tough castle, sky, rock coastline meet
pricking beach
Bertrand Russell philosophy
that didn’t mean a thing to me
but earnest adults flock to him
the youngsters play in musty gym
pipe-smoking bike-clip Granddad brought
me to his work hut in the port
where, with a saucer he showed me
how quickly one could drink hot tea
walk with Dad to Ninian Park
there was no dank dull autumn dark
western avenue, where I saw
Heinz tins tumbling to the floor
warm terraced house, school, Canton pub
railway bridge, crowds, football club
floodlights, grandstand, bright grass pitch where
fast orange ball flew through the air
Singapore
Then, Llanyrafon away
my father now teaching in Singapore
we flew there old Britannia turbo prop
watch the fuel burn
when the start-up rotor began to turn
In those days of the whispering giant
the pilot and crew were not reliant
on computers to adjust trim or flap,
but had to fly the thing and read a map.
Sitting backwards, twenty hours or more,
from London winter to warm island shore,
and on emerging from the tired plane,
met first hand the belt of tropical rain.
Into car, and then to the Guest House, where
I wore shorts all day and my feet were bare.
the hot air
or insect chorus in whirring tree
the wet morning of warm perfume rain
pungent fruit basket by raw monsoon drain
Chinese umbrella varnished with oil
polished wood flooring, mosquito coil
hot night street-market, smell and noise kissing
bouillabaisse fair, bright gas lamps hissing,
chattering commerce, bargaining price
eating from rice bowl, chopstick pecking
grey Chinese housewife, shopping bag
Indian sari, Malay skirt flowing
my father brought back a hawker curry
wrapped up in, I think, a banana leaf
chicken or fish, maybe in those days, beef
although, of course, I didn’t eat a lot
after I found out that it was too hot
my eating tools were downed in a flurry
ice cool water was sunk in a hurry
he though I were rather silly.
the truth was then, I knew nothing of chilli
Bukit Sedap
the flat in Bukit Sedap by the narrow-gauge railway
had shutters where the night cicak came
used by the Japanese in World War Two
garden flotsam, palm frond, dry copra husk
cream frangipani with warm sticky aroma
orchid, hibiscus, rough grass cutting you
the roar and clanking of the Johor train.
one day, I was bitten
by mosquitoes, on a wet kampung track
stupidly careless, shirtless in the sun
with the kebun, who was Indonesian
whose wife, our amah, Saouda, was Malay
the first second-hand car, two-tone light grey
registration number 2061
push started once early morning
by white navy men, the battery
back at that time, I didn’t understand why
my thankless father just raised his hand, kept chugging
but didn’t slow and go back and thank them
parents went off once, left me in the car
I played around with the gear
then blissfully unaware of the clutch
their puzzlement showing why
after the shopping, the car wouldn’t go
once, the kitchen brush I put
just under the amah’s quarters wire
it broke; there followed a terrified cry
as with one mighty bang, the lighting went out
rough communal garage, an open-air
concrete floor-wooden post- tin roof
no-licence mother
engaged car to post with a hefty blow
heard the raking scraping noise
flat downstairs, Georgina and Julian
their father had a pale green Citroen
a navy commander, Australian
Chinese prayer table, tea chest from Tanglin
on Bras Basah Road, was taught violin
by Mr Bacsafra, LTCL,
who got me grade one, grade two
Tang, on Orchard Road, super shop from where
came my weather set
and a train set, Marklin, from Germany
and in almost mint condition now
I refuse to let anyone else play.
although now that I have children of my own
maybe they can use it
In the Island Golf Club swimming pool
learned breaststroke, backstroke, crawl, and butterfly.
Gunfight at the OK Corral
Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday in a fight
Headmistress Mrs E M Boswell MBE
my prefect badge stripped from me
because of talking on the outside stair.
now, a teacher myself, I think unfair
to cause so much hurt to a young boy
the same teacher asked the class to find out
what ‘raining cats and dogs’ meant
I cheated, because my father helped me
by looking it up in the dictionary
two of us were bothered enough to get the answer
he gave the other a star; I got nought
Malaya
the Causeway, the Gap, then up Fraser’s Hill
where warm days contrast with sunset nip
winding road climbing to two thousand metre
where light mist, tall fern, bamboo tree meet
in tropical range, jungle row, bungalow
old English style
forest fringe nine holes, golf clubs for hire
walk back for dinner, evening log on the go
Malacca, Segamat, east coast Mersing
pineapple lorry
I had the chance in Kuala Lumpur to meet
Capucine, William Holden…
Italy
time to say goodbye to that time Singapore
we went back to Wales, but this time by boat
through Bombay and Suez, then Italy
Esther and Chas waving us off from the quay
a now flickering film capturing the moment
those days no soundtrack, a sea-ballet mime
Italian ship, Indian Ocean
alphabet pasta table by the trio
the ship bouncing
many were seasick, but not hero me
on deck, watching twenty thousand tons ploughing
through open ocean, foam over the bow
engine room, white propeller shaft yearning
for a quick tea break from routine
Night of the Iguana
there are times these years come back to me
but from now, I’m in reminiscence fade away
hazy or lazy they move away
a few hours exploring Bombay
the ship bunkering
The Gateway to India welcoming
built in the British imperial game
North-east Africa coast haze
brief stop at Port Said, the canal the ship’s width
but from here, the brain keeps rejecting
requests, and has trouble recollecting
the horse carts of Messina
unconnected points on my tapestry
three weeks to Naples, Montecassino church, Roman Pompeii
Mediterranean hotel room
I take off part of my thick eyebrow hair
thinking the opening razorblade fun.
parents not exactly pleased with their son
car journey through Europe, a blank
French customs post flag, ciao Italy
chequering tablecloth, Paris café
lorry men fading down memory way...
Croesyceiliog
then to Jones West Monmouth
where blazer badge, cap and tie
cold indoor pool, hard playground romp
misery rugby on wet hill
watched the All Blacks beat Pontypool / Cross Keys
11 points to zero
Bryn Eglwys
where my angry mother swatted me
with a wooden spatula on my arm for being
out too late; she thought no joke
but the nice part was when the thing broke
then, many years later by an old dry Cotswold half-wall waiting here
bare land where farming birds raucously call to the air
off the main road, some miles after the antique-shop Stow
a place windswept in summer, in winter, a blanket of snow
a flask of tomato soup, fresh buns, hot Cambridgeshire tea.
through Cheltenham, Gloucester, Ross-on-Wye
next time I’m back I must make an effort
to stop at the now unused station and read the poem
I wonder what Thomas would make of it now
if he were able to see the shunted sleeping railway
but that’s a promise many times broken, with regret
it would be a nice pilgrimage for we two
for my not-too-old mother passed away some years back
in Bronllys, but not before they were both able to go
back to Singapore, enjoying their time
maybe recollecting when they too, were a young father and mother
when they were in tropical love in that small flat where
the night breeze came kissing the slow turning fan air
of course I don‘t know
a quiet Gloucestershire hump bridge
bare hedge, autumn leaf tree
broken railway, Monmouthshire
a book of poetry, me
No, I won’t forget Adlestrop
‘no-one came… Adlestrop...the name.’
no it’s not / not for me / cannot be / memory / poetry / come to me
you don’t know / where I go
come to me / memory / going on / going on …
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Au revoir, Mesdames, Messieurs
ah, you Diploma in Chef Training, then section three
teaching you was always a pleasure for me
three semesters ago, but that time has run free
herbes et épices, légume et fruit
we had a class once in the late afternoon here
under coconut trees with hanging fronds near
the campus and wooded mist hill to the rear
arranger, ajouter, émincer, garnir
Monday, I forget, but Wednesday was three
in language lab two overlooking the sea
queueing up, squinting, the bleach balcony
merci, peut-être, non, ça va, mais oui
talk, clown, and laughing, your usual way
of enjoying yourselves right through the day
you managed to combine hard work and play
je mange, je ne crois pas, je n’ai pas, j’aurai
your class, there was no oasis of calm in there
using Bienvenue en France to work as a pair
watching the small screen, lounge on the chair
pomme, chou-fleur, oignon et fromage gruyère
but today you are finishing here in Terengganu
the time going away, time going through
with your chosen profession now in front of you
croquante, amère, ou gras, aigre, cru
Penang, five star necklace clientele preen?
Pahang, and the more laid back beach resort scene?
Port Klang, on a cruise ship or the merchant marine?
céréales, avoine, blé, orge et farine
your chef training is something that you’ll not regret
although you don’t have much experience yet
both interesting work and good money you’ll get
beurre, confiture, crêpe, croissant, baguette
or further your studies, and get a degree
then the future is open to what you could be;
whatever you do, best wishes from me
un poulet, un canard, moule, huître, nouille
you taught me a lot, maybe more than you know
when you were chattering, time never went slow
it was a pity when the time came to go
café au lait, sucre, chocolat, eau
inspiration and effort gave you your goal yesterday
the longest Swiss roll in the country on display
a speech by the Provost got the thing underway
présent et futur, je mange, mangerai
I bought some for my children as some of you know
and they enjoyed it so much, finished most in one go.
going from the plate like the sun melting snow
bonjour et bonsoir, bonne nuit, a bientôt
it’s nice always for them to try something new
my daughter ‘kek ini, sangat sedap’ - that’s true
your effort put you among the culinary few
un des gâteaux le plus meilleurs que mes enfants ont eu
the hall, most time empty, now sweet tooth replete
your expert fruit carving an optical treat
the icing cake metres were soon in retreat
thym, poisson au four, gingembre, pomme frite
then when you’re a big name on the local chef scene
and you’re interviewed by some in flight magazine
and like Anita, you’ll be on the RTM screen
malaise, indienne, chinoise cuisine
a first class marble gown penthouse up high
a weekend retreat kampung house, Kuala Krai
an elegant spouse watching Mercedes go by
orange, mangue, poire, banane et papaye
alors, bonne voyage, you roam who knows where
but don’t forget bird hill and the south China sea air
the old Molek Inn memory of professional flair
et le phrase, je pense, le plus régulière
Monsieur, je ne comprends pas, je ne peux pas faire
The Ancient Orient / The Modern Orient
In the garden of the Prefecture residence, under willow tree, cut grass scent breeze,
insects whirring, occasional bark of the sentry, evening at ease,
third wife, Celestial Glory, in pearl coloured gown, showing top of breast, soft and fair,
playing classical music on the zhongruen, ‘Cheng Mei-wei laments the dryness of the desert air’,
first wife, Morning Harmony, reading poetry,
lowers eyes in demure fashion, intellect broad, intense, yet free,
second wife, Passion Flower of the Night, gown partly open, showing thigh,
feeding pet baby squirrel imported African nuts, teaching it to reach high,
children playing chess under watchful eye of matron, maids wait with tea.
Peng you,
I think of you and the times we had together
at the Imperial Chancellery at Fuzhou,
the dinners of roast honey duck, stuffed fish, yam cake, fresh asparagus, a jug or two. How
were those nights of talk and argument, the weekends of bliss in tranquil weather.
(pulls back sleeve of golden silk robe, quietly sips from porcelain tea bowl)
I think of Rhododendron Blossom, the long hair
of a maiden as she gazed into the cool lake, where
the heron shook the drops of its back, itself bathing,
the mountain eagle flying on the wing.
Ah, the moment that my love gave birth.
You were much better than me at university,
top in Literature, Morals, Philosophy.
I am surprised you chose to be a judge, albeit in the High Court.
the quiet life of a scholar and teacher - I think what you could have taught -
would have suited a man of your breeding, education, and worth.
I admire the height that you reach.
(claps hand for maid, gently hold petals of morning glory toward the lamp, nods in thoughtful way)
My paper on herbal remedies was well received at court;
maybe I’ll be appointed the Royal Pharmacologist.
I jest, for I know there will be an admonishing retort;
you are right, that life would not suit me.
I keep well enough here, with my three women, the children too.
The moon is clouding over, rain I fear. Morning mist
is usual this time of year, as is malaria; the air is thick, one can almost chew.
I have work, some research; I salute you with my tea.
(official wax seal by scribe, leans back in teak chair, opens book on history)
The Modern Orient 8pm, circa 2003
(Fifteen years into the Homer Dynasty)
In an open restaurant, a dirty street next to monsoon drain, with municipal rubbish tip.
First and only wife (groan), one hand on teenage-tight jeans hip.
Nescafe tee-shirt complete with ten hours of Malaysian heat and humidity,
other hand on hand-phone, shouting in verbal nitro-glycerine acidity.
Mosquito whining, bone of table’s last occupants’ meal waiting for someone to collect.
Raucous Taiwanese soap opera on the TV, sub-zero intellect.
Flea-bitten dog urinating against car tyre, three metres away.
Customer ready to go, sniffs loudly and deeply in throat, pulls up sweaty tee-shirt, bares hairless stomach
picks up chopstick, scratches arm,
throws burning cigarette into road, yells at gormless, TV-watching, nose-picking, Form Three part-time waitress of dubious hygiene
puts receipt in pocket with change, spits out toothpick
Monday, July 16, 2012
Terengganu rainstorm, Welsh summer
beach coast run, east sea
yellow sand, bent tree
wind, on shore
night, no more
morning sun, glowing
breakfast tea, flowing
stall, waiter
teach, later
afternoon, wife search
red snapper, sea perch
night, fried fish
lime, side dish
fast dark clouds, night sky
branches ache, leaves fly
birds, away
twigs, in play
rain torrents fall fast
place empties, me last.
earth, now flood
tracks, thick mud
class through, high noon
by the trees, eat soon
queue, request
eat, hour rest
cafeteria
much hysteria
air, churning
rain, turning
rain beats hard, thrashing
umbrellas, crashing
chairs, flying
spoons, trying
rain beat, blast, batter
women crouch, chatter
ask, they serve
smile, mouth curve
wind gusting, again
Malay lunch, in rain
wing, hot spice
grain, white rice
misty hill, at back
thunder boom, harsh crack
cloud, rough grey
rain, harsh flay
university
wet adversity
wall, flushing
drain, rushing
heavy rain, easing.
wind slowing, breezing.
leaf, singing
bird, winging
hard grey clouds, drifting
canopy, lifting
trees, peering
mist, clearing
equator, rain war
hot tropics, air thaw
cloud, melting
rain, pelting
ii Welsh summer
Welsh mountain, in May
cumulus, off grey
no cricket.
wet wicket
Afon Gwy, cool flow
meander, oxbow
past Boughrood
rocks protrude
wind gusting, again
dad eats lunch, in rain
bread, hot tea,
soup, with me
August rain, fleck
scent apple trees, peck
bent fence, slow creak
grass, brushed sleek
winds panting, through night
garage door, slams tight
we, sleeping
glass, weeping
mocking gales, swept fern
hill side lambs, trees turn
rain, knowing west, going
temperate, rain fight
brisk north, air bite
cloud, lightweight
rain, irate
iii ???
nostalgia, from Wye
emotion, on high
shift, compute
click, commute